PirateQ 
Troy Moon, Pensacola State College
Jaisiah Rivera believes in himself and his own ability and promise. The Pensacola State College student is grateful that others have faith in his potential as well.
“I’m going to make it big someday, you watch,” said Rivera, one of 25 PSC students who were awarded an African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship or a Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship at a special ceremony on March 4 in the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio at WSRE-TV.
Rivera, a PSC Health Sciences student who plans to become a physician, was one of four students who received an African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship.
Twenty-one PSC students received Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship.
To fund the scholarships, the College launched a “100 for 100” campaign. Volunteers set a goal for 100 people to donate $100 each – a $10,000 goal that was surpassed.
Last year, $15,865 was raised to fund this year’s scholarships, including $3,000 that was raised after “Pensacola State Today” featured an episode on the scholarships and recipients.
Left to right: Dr. Tonie Anderson-Steele; Chef Darrell Nelson; Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; Dr. Ed Meadows.
At the ceremony, scholarship recipients had their photos taken with PSC President Ed Meadows, and the students received awards sponsored by Favor Flavor Seafood of Pensacola. Darrell Nelson, one of the restaurant owners, is a PSC alumnus.
Following the ceremony, three of the scholarship recipients participated in a taping of a one-hour episode of “Pensacola State Today” that will honor the recipients. The segment will air at 3 p.m. April 2 on WSRE-TV. It will be air again at 1 p.m. on April 3.
“Pensacola State Today” is hosted by Dr. Rameca Leary, the College’s Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives.
“We have a great team of volunteers who helped us raise the money for these scholarships,” Leary said. “It’s the wonderful community support that funds these scholarships and helps these students.”
Graphic design student Marissa Greene said she was grateful for the support and the confidence others have in her.
“The scholarship means people have faith in me to do what’s right,” Greene said. “People don’t just give money to people who don’t want to work for it, so it shows that I have been working toward my goals.”
Greene received a Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship.
Wiggins was the president of the all-black Booker T. Washington Junior College when it merged with then-Pensacola Junior College in 1965. Wiggins then served as the PJC Director of Research until his retirement in 1969.
The Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship was established in 2005. Though it is not endowed, Meadows said there is a plan to endow the scholarship in the future to allow it to help students in perpetuity.
The African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship started more than 20 years ago to honor Dr. Ellen Lett, a beloved PJC English instructor. A scholarship was created in her name. Later the scholarship’s vision was expanded, and the name changed to pay tribute to deceased African American employees at the College.
The ceremony is presented by the PSC Black History/Multicultural Committee. Leary is the volunteer coordinator. Dr. Tonie Anderson-Steele is the chair of the Black History/Multicultural Committee.
To donate to the scholarship funds, go to https://foundation.pensacolastate.edu/opportunities-to-support-psc/scholarships/.
African American Memorial Endowment Scholarship recipients for Fall/Spring 2021-2022 are:
• Joey Avant
• Avery Johnson
• Shauna Stoute
• Shelby Witherspoon.
Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship recipients are:
• Sharlene Blackmon
• Briana Chahine
• Ramonda Coles
• Kennethia Corpuz
• Janieya Ephriam
• Shantora Grant
• Marissa Greene
• Darrell Howard II
• Portia Keith
• Jasmine Lewis
• Dominque McWaine
• Amelia Nichols
• Gregory Posey
• Haley Pratt
• Jaisiah Rivera
• Alexandra Samuel
• Sandra Savage
• Shamekia Sigler
• Jessica Spencer
• Agatha Wilkes
• Rose Witherspoon.
2022 AAMES-Wiggins Scholarship Recipients (front row, l-r): Agatha Wilkes, Ramonda Coles, Rose Witherspoon, Briana Chahine, Shantora Grant, Shelby Witherspoon, Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; (middle row, l-r) Joey Avant, Dr. Tonie Anderson-Steele, Gregory Posey, Jaisiah Rivera, Marissa Greene, Kennethia Corpuz, Sharlene Blackmon; (top row, l-r) Portia Keith, Shauna Stoute, Amelia Nichols, Alexandra Samuel, Sandra Savage, Darrell Nelson, Dr. Ed Meadows. Not pictured: Avery Johnson, Janieya Ephriam, Darrell Howard, Jasmine Lewis, Dominque McWaine, Haley Pratt, Shamekia Sigler, Jessica Spencer.
2022-AAMES-Wiggins Scholarships Volunteer Group (front row, l-r): Michelle Jones, Verona Hutchinson, Khaliah Williams, Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary; (back row, l-r) Dr. Ed Meadows, Tom Ford, Trace Brown, Dr. John Woods, Brian Sutton, Jonathan Stallworth.